Charlie's Story

As a baby, Charlie had severe brain damage, hydrocephalus, meningitis, hyper mobility, and a few other conditions that became more prominent over the years as she was growing up. The doctors had to place a VP Shunt in her brain, to drain the excess fluid into her stomach, the excess fluid was life threatening and was caused by her hydrocephalus. As Charlie got older, she defied odds and gained the nickname ‘Cheeky Charlie’ from people fundraising to help support her, and her family with these conditions. Over the years, more problems began to develop as Charlie had occasional seizures, had to take increased medication, use a wheelchair, and have an eye patch over one eye to try and correct her eyesight. No one knew what Charlie’s future held or how long that future may even be. 

These conditions meant Charlie struggled with her independence away from Jackie and refused to go to school, which led to the diagnosis of seperational anxiety. However, she was still improving, she no longer needed the wheelchair or eye patch. Instead, she wore thick lensed glasses and was able to walk alone but only for short distances before she was in pain. Her struggle with school became more apparent when she was near the end of primary school, as she would spend the mornings screaming and refusing to leave the house. There was not as much support available for Charlie as there should have been and she eventually had to leave mainstream school and be placed into a special needs school. 

They helped Charlie thrive and over the years, she has grown into a fun, confident and bubbly person. She still has her problems to face and always will but due to the care and support from the professionals from her school and the determination that her family faced to keep going and get her that care, she will now be able to face them head on with a bright looking future. 

Now Charlie is in college and gets positive reviews regularly on her progress from her teachers and doctors. She still takes medication multiple times daily, wears ear defenders when noises are too loud and must avoid all flashing Christmas lights or ambulance lights but has not had a damaging seizure in 5 years and keeps trying to be independent with her everyday life, however, she will always need support. The battle with her learning difficulties, daily absent seizures and other lifelong conditions are never ending but she has learned all she can about them and how to keep them under control. She enjoys travelling to various places in the world and likes fashion, cars, and college. Recently she has achieved, two, one-hundred-mile bike challenges 2022 and 2023, visited Ireland, visited Birmingham, went on the London eye (her favourite was Big Ben) and had her end of year 11, prom. We are still unsure of what the future holds for Charlie but grateful for what we have now and the support system she has around her, no matter what may happen. 

Charlie is a big part of the company, not only as the inspiration but as a helper. She meets all the staff, spends time with the customers and enjoys producing creative ideas and activities for everyone to take part in. We believe that everyone should have support to help them thrive and we want to create a company that provides that to others.